Gorck
Prince of Dorkness
I haven't had the chance to get the 2 new FR books, but for my money's worth, the 3e Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is phenomenal.  I'm not a D&D historian, but the Character Regions table (on pages 30-32, for those who want to follow along at home) is the first time I recall seeing anything similar to 5e's backgrounds.  Depending on what region you're from (or what race you are) it gives you an automatic language, bonus languages, a regional feat, and bonus equipment.  It's not a perfect 1:1 comparison to backgrounds, but it definitely shows the seeds that were sown and eventually reaped in 5e.